History

Author Content

A federal grand jury in the Western District of Wisconsin, sitting in Madison, returned an indictment Thursday, May 13 for a Maiden Rock man. Eric Kurrelmeyer, 31, is charged with two counts of producing child pornography, one count of distributing child pornography, and one count of possessing child pornography.

Lifesaving efforts Deputies responded for a male who was found on the ground not breathing and without a pulse at N4908 1180th St. in Prescott at 10:23 p.m. May 3. Lifesaving efforts were attempted and the male was later pronounced deceased on scene. Fraud and theft reports • A complainant stated she received a Facebook message that was a fraud at 4:50 p.m. April 29 at an 870th Street residence near Ellsworth but did not give out any personal information.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, is temporarily closing its two Western Wisconsin parks due to high water levels and flooding. These parks include the Eau Galle Dam and Recreation Area, located in Spring Valley, and Blackhawk Park, located in De Soto. Corps staff also closed three Mississippi River landings due to high river stages. They include Bad Axe and Jay's landings in Wisconsin and Millstone Landing in Minnesota. The Corps will reopen the park and landings as conditions allow.

Arrests • Kaylee A. Paulson, 24, Prior Lake, Minn., was arrested on suspicion of possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia at 3:25 a.m. April 26 at county roads C and E in Ellsworth. The sheriff's department responded to a vehicle in the ditch and made contact with Paulson and a search of the vehicle was conducted.

When the ladies of Ellsworth American Legion and Auxiliary first came up with the idea of introducing high school students to county government, they knew the idea would catch on and It sure did. Ladies of the auxiliary, led by Dorothy Oftedahl and Gertrude Helmer along with others, wanted to expose the young people in the county to how their county government works by going hands-on at the several elected and appointed offices in Pierce County. Today the event is eagerly awaited by students as well as teachers as it broadens their view of the world around them.

A driver and one passenger were sent to the hospital around 1:26 a.m. April 23 after a single vehicle roll-over crash on Highway 10 near 322nd Avenue in Salem Township near Plum City. A Pierce County Sheriff's Office news release stated that the driver, 48-year-old Michael Stewart of Ellsworth, was traveling eastbound in a 1998 Toyota 4Runner on Highway 10 and lost control of the vehicle, causing it to enter the ditch and overturn.

An initial call on Oct. 25, 2018 from the Pierce County Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) informed the Ellsworth Police Department about an alleged case of funds abuse for a Guardian of Estate account. The account, made for an Atrium Post Acute Care resident, was signed over to the man's son, Erick L. Langer of Ellsworth, in August 2017. As Guardian of Estate, Langer was responsible for paying the care center for his father's care with a checking account where social security checks were deposited.

Closed cases Michael A. Cooper, 38, Ellsworth, was convicted of disorderly conduct and fined $443 March 25. A criminal damage to property was read in but dismissed. The charges resulted from a May 3 incident in Ellsworth. A felony possession of methamphetamine charge against Charles O. Kester, 50, Prescott, was dismissed March 29 upon completion of a deferred judgment of conviction agreement. The charge stemmed from an Oct. 24, 2017 incident in Prescott.

Citations • Carl M. Balloy, 22, Ellsworth, was for operating ATV without valid registration after allegedly operating an unregistered all-terrain vehicle on a roadway and private parking lot at 12:53 p.m. April 8 at 137 E. Main St., Ellsworth. The report listed no ATV safety, no brake light on the vehicle or rear brakes and illegal exhaust. • Shawn P. Vinje, 21, Lakeville, was cited for speeding after a traffic stop at 12:03 a.m. April 10 at 1170th Street and Highway 29 in Prescott. Vinje said he needed to go that fast to pass a car.